There were a few young men in our church, who were the right age around 9/11 to be caught up in the fervor  of those times who enlisted in the US Infantry and USMC. They went to war, encouraged by people like me who were part of what has now been identified as the military-evangelical complex. When things started going badly, a USMC Vietnam, multiple tod combat veteran stood up in church one Sunday and denounced what was happening "it ain't right". I respected the man but, I was also mad. That respect kept my mouth shut but, over time and educating myself about real reasons for the war; Islam and the multiple cultures within it, I came to realize that Big Jim was right and I had been duped but, by then it was all over, the players were gone and all that is left is the damage inflicted on our own and on our enemies and tens of thousands of innocents. Broken lives, caused by people I helped elect in 2000,2002,2004,2006,2008,2010 and 2012. Since then I vote anti-incumbent regardless of party. Seven elections, I gave full and absolute support to murder. I blame myself and people like me who were true believers for that blood, for without blind acquiesce it couldn't have happened. Those in power hold a greater responsibility because they wanted it all along. I have repented of my sin and have received grace. It still hurts when I look into the faces of those young men I "Huzzahed!!" off to get revenge . There is only one path to peace, geopolitically and that is remove all US military presence in the Dar al Islam, bulldoze Zionist Israel into the sea and negotiate and pay the blood price. That's never going to happen and so the USA piles sin upon sin upon sin. 
        My prayer request is for "C" a remarkable young man who is married with two kids and works with the youth. My son in particular is close to him and I'm trying, in spite of a twenty year age gap, we both ride motorcycles so, that's a start.
   I've always held the belief that if those who started and ran wars were required to have the first blood spilled their own, we might have less of it. Can anyone name me the last war truly endorsed by God because both sides always claim it. Our war between the States, WW2 the allies claimed it, the Germans had "Gott mit uns" on their uniforms. Truth is you'd probably have to find it in the OT.

I agree that the last just war was long before the US came into existence. It's good that you've repented of that. My Bible lesson this evening is apropos of how believers have been misled, and the woeful wrath that is due them for it.

"God bless you for your service (to our bureaucrats and bankers)."

My new church (the one I walked out on on Father's Day) does a lot of "God bless the troops" poopytalk. Another reason to ditch it.

(06-24-2018, 07:33 AM)jaybreak Wrote: "God bless you for your service (to our bureaucrats and bankers)."

My new church (the one I walked out on on Father's Day) does a lot of "God bless the troops" poopytalk. Another reason to ditch it.

There is are several bumper stickers out there saying basically "we owe our freedom to jesus and the American soldier" it just frosts me no end. I spell Jesus with a small j because they're not referring to Christ our Lord but, to some neo-pagan god man who, in their delusion equate to Jesus.

(06-24-2018, 08:57 PM)IainH Wrote: I spell Jesus with a small j because they're not referring to Christ our Lord but, to some neo-pagan god man who, in their delusion equate to Jesus.

Hey, you could always pick up the habit of using other versions of His name, like Yeshua.  

(06-25-2018, 07:17 AM)Ed Hurst Wrote:

(06-24-2018, 08:57 PM)IainH Wrote: I spell Jesus with a small j because they're not referring to Christ our Lord but, to some neo-pagan god man who, in their delusion equate to Jesus.

Hey, you could always pick up the habit of using other versions of His name, like Yeshua.  

Guffaw! No better way to start the day than a good belly laugh!

(06-24-2018, 08:57 PM)IainH Wrote:

(06-24-2018, 07:33 AM)jaybreak Wrote: "God bless you for your service (to our bureaucrats and bankers)."

My new church (the one I walked out on on Father's Day) does a lot of "God bless the troops" poopytalk. Another reason to ditch it.

There is are several bumper stickers out there saying basically "we owe our freedom to jesus and the American soldier" it just frosts me no end. I spell Jesus with a small j because they're not referring to Christ our Lord but, to some neo-pagan god man who, in their delusion equate to Jesus.

We should make bumper stickers that say "Jesus doesn't give a damn about your freedom." It wouldn't be completely correct, but it's not completely wrong, either. But it would ruffle some feathers nicely.

By "we," I mean "someone else." I'm not ready to engage the froth from the fallout.

Jay, I have a friend in church who owns a printing shop and yes he can make bumper stickers. So our challenge is to refine your idea adding a scripture reference without using "damn" as an expletive but, still retaining the punch of the message "Jesus doesn't give a damn about your Freedom" . Damn and it's variants may be used if they are in the scripref. Scripref© MrIain International Heavy Manufacturing Concern. I've had several bumper sticker ideas over the years eg. Got Mammon?, (fill in your desired sin) makes the baby Jesus cry, Jesus answered Deu 6:5&Lev19:18 those are one that pop into my head and aren't the best ones.

(06-26-2018, 10:37 AM)IainH Wrote: Jay, I have a friend in church who owns a printing shop and yes he can make bumper stickers. So our challenge is to refine your idea adding a scripture reference without using "damn" as an expletive but, still retaining the punch of the message "Jesus doesn't give a damn about your Freedom" . Damn and it's variants may be used if they are in the scripref. Scripref© MrIain International Heavy Manufacturing Concern. I've had several bumper sticker ideas over the years eg. Got Mammon?, (fill in your desired sin) makes the baby Jesus cry, Jesus answered Deu 6:5&Lev19:18 those are one that pop into my head and aren't the best ones.

Just remembered to "combat" the ubiquitous John3:16. I wanted to have one with 1John2:15-17. John 3:16 was part of a lesson Jesus was giving one of the "doctors of the Law" and is used out of context in, as Ed puts it, sales pitch evangelism. 1John 2:15-17 on the other hand makes no bones about the nature of fallen man which is "the world" in this context . Antinomians love to twist John 3:16 to their nefarious ends. But, that's another matter. Back to my original thinkery. I have long wished to come up with stickers that call out bumper sticker evangelism for what it is, the shallow appeal of decision theology.

Hmmm. "It's not a decision; it's a divine miracle." "God's truth doesn't fit on a bumper sticker." I like "Got Mammon?"